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Mar 28 Reading a definition of social justice

Current reading at the CNS Greenacres office is “The Revolution of the Mind - Radical Enlightenment and the Intellectual Origins of Modern Democracy” by Jonathan Israel, an impressively knowledgeable, if sometimes controversial, writer and historian.

The Revolution of the Mind is a wonderful piece of writing that starts with a flourish. This is from the preface:

Radical Enlightenment is a set of basic principles that can be summed up as: democracy; racial and sexual equality; individual liberty of lifestyle; full freedom of thought, expression, and the press; eradication of religious authority from the legislative process and education; and the full separation of church and state. It sees the purpose of the state as being wholly secular one of promoting the worldly interests of the majority and preventing vested minority interests from capturing control of the legislative process. Its chief maxim is that all men have the same basic needs, rights, and status irrespective of what they believe or what religious, economic, or ethnic group they belong to, and that consequently all ought to be treated alike, on the basis of equity, whether black or white, male or female, religious or nonreligious, and that all deserve to have their personal interests and aspirations equally respected by law and government. Its universalism lies in the claim that all men have the same right to pursue happiness in their own way, and think and say whatever they see fit, and no one, including those who convince others they are divinely chosen to be their masters, rulers, or spiritual guides, is justified in denying or hindering others in the enjoyment of rights that pertain to all men and women equally.

Sounds like a good definition of social justice to me.

Typically however, Rob thinks he can improve on it, so watch this space…